By Andrew Warshaw
January 16 – A host of European-based African stars look set to miss a crucial part of next season after it was announced that the 2021 Africa Cup of Nations is reverting back to the competition’s traditional January slot.
The move back from June/July to January 6-February 6 looks certain to infuriate a raft of clubs but the Cameroon Football Federation (Fecafoot) said the change has been made due to weather conditions in the country at that time of year and has been accepted by the Confederation of African Football (CAF).
“We have reviewed the period of the competition as requested by the Cameroonian party due to unfavourable climatic conditions during the period initially slated,” said CAF’s deputy general secretary Tony Baffoe.
“After listening to the various arguments and viewpoints, and in particular from the Cameroonian meteorological authorities, the coaches and players; the representatives of the Afcon organising committee, which received the mandate from CAF Executive Committee to take the decision, has granted this request.”
The tournament, played every two years, was exceptionally switched to a June-July slot for last year’s expanded 24-team event in Egypt, partly to avoid clashing with the European club season.
But now, English clubs in particular run the risk of losing many of their most important players. Liverpool will be hit hard should Egypt, Senegal and Guinea qualify as it would deny them the services of Mohamed Salah, Sadio Mane and Naby Keita.
Among the other most high-profile African players currently playing in England are Arsenal duo Pierre-Emerick Aubamayang and Nicolas Pepe.
Cameroon was initially scheduled to be the venue for the 2019 African Cup of Nations but CAF stripped the country of hosting rights in late 2018 because of delays in preparations and security concerns and handed them 2021 instead.
The change of date may upset Europe but is highly convenient for both Africa and FIFA whose first ever expanded 24-team Club World Cup in China is scheduled for June and July of the same year. The timing would have posed huge problems for Africa’s own showpiece event which would have had to take place straight after the Club World Cup had it remained in the same time slot.
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